Michigan farmers are ?aiming to implement a ?variety of conservation practices to protect the state’s land and water for future generations.

In an attempt to strengthen effective conservation tools and crop insurance to protect farmers from future ?weather disasters and create more agricultural jobs, ?Stabenow is pushing for the final passage of a new federal five-year farm bill.

During the forum, experts from MSU and across the state gave presentations that showed how diseases and ?various pests could spread as crops previously grown only in southern Michigan are now being grown in northern Michigan.

“Michigan State’s role as a premier international research institution is going to be ?absolutely key to give our growers tools they need to deal with these diseases,” Stabenow said.

Stabenow said MSU’s ?agricultural program was in line with efforts to bring farmers to the 21st century, and said the farm bill could assist with the sort of ?agricultural research the ?university provides.

“It’s been a landmark institution for agricultural research,” Stabenow said.

“One of the things that we do in our Farm Bill is to expand upon research. We’ve set up a new public-private ?sector foundation that would be ?receiving public money through the Farm Bill but would also be ?receiving private money.”

Stabenow and Wyden ?later addressed Michigan wind energy manufacturers at the State Wind Energy Forum in East Lansing to further explore and discuss challenges facing the wind industry.